Iran threatens oil tankers in Strait of Hormuz with 'forceful response'

The warning on Thursday, July 2 arrives amidst escalating tensions surrounding the vital oil supply waterway.

The strait has emerged as a central point of discussions in talks to end the Iran conflict, which erupted following joint US and Israeli strikes on multiple key Iranian sites on February 28.

The statement from the Khatam al-Anbiya military command, broadcast by Iranian state television, follows diplomatic talks between US and Iranian representatives with mediators on Wednesday in Qatar.

What triggered Iran’s Thursday warning regarding oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz remains uncertain.

The US military’s Central Command, however , had released a statement concerning a meeting with officials from Middle Eastern countries in Bahrain which noted “leaders underscored their shared commitment to the free flow of commerce through” the strait.

That particular wording may have provoked Iran’s ire.

The Iranian statement said: “Any failure to comply, deviation from the designated route, or disregard for the navigation protocols of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Strait of Hormuz will be met with an immediate and forceful response from the armed forces, endangering the security of the violating vessels.”

It further stated that interference by US forces in the strait “will be met with a rapid and decisive reaction.”

Iran and the US agreed to allow ships to pass without paying charges for 60 days, as part of an interim deal. But Tehran insisted it must control the routes of the vessels and later charge fees for passage.

The US and numerous Gulf Arab nations said they will reject Iran imposing charges for transit through the strait, which would overturn decades of established practice in the waterway.

An initiative by Oman and a United Nations agency to establish an alternative route near Oman’s coastline triggered attacks throughout the Middle East last weekend.

Despite the attacks, ship traffic in the strait continued to rebound.

At least 258 ships transited the waterway last week, according to marine data and analysis company Lloyd’s List Intelligence, up from 138 ships the previous week.